The impact of an Angus man’s suicide has helped save others from the same cruel fate, his mother has said.
Ross Ramsay was found dead last year in Glasgow after going missing from his home in the Maryhill area of the city.
He had embarked on a promising career in the music and theatre industry and had secured a new job with the National Theatre of Scotland before his death.
The 30-year-old was regarded as a friendly, modest and talented man but one who was sadly affected by mental health issues, which had eventually led to his death.
Mother Sandra has been talking out about suicide prevention and has been approached by many people who considered taking their own lives but sought help after hearing of Ross’s death.
Sandra, who lives in Arbroath, told The Courier: “It’s been my experience that due to being so open about suicide, people have approached me and shared their experiences of having depression or feeling suicidal.
“It is such a common problem and affects almost everyone at some point in their life. I am often told I am an inspirational woman, although I don’t see myself as that.
“For me, I simply want to break down the barriers of the stigma and feelings of discrimination which is still attached to people who are experiencing a time in their life when they need positive support.”
Sandra, who works for Angus Council, continues to support the Angus Community Support Network, which is run by the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) in conjunction with Choose Life Angus and the council.
She said Ross felt stigma attached to his mental health and that her son and family would have benefited from the existence of a support network at that time.
Liam Yule, SAMH’s Community Network Facilitator for Angus and South Aberdeenshire, said: “There is such stigma surrounding suicide and only by talking about it and trying to make it a ‘normal’ conversation topic can we help drive down this stigma and increase awareness.”